Tottenham v Manchester City
Tuesday 9th April 2000hrs
Football – Europe – Champions League
Pick Manchester City
Bookmaker Betfair
Odds: 10/11 (odds taken 17.30 GMT, Monday 8th April)
All four English clubs who entered the Champions League have made it through to the quarter finals and one of them will definitely be in the final four as a mouth watering all-Premier League tie awaits with Tottenham facing Manchester City.
Champions League Betting at Betfair
Tottenham Preview
It’s been a somewhat frustrating season for Tottenham domestically but they have made it to the last-eight of the Champions League for just the second time in their history. Finishing second to Barcelona in the group stage, in a section that included Inter Milan and PSV, Mauricio Pochettino’s men turned in one of their best performances in recent times in the first leg of their last-16 clash against Borussia Dortmund. A stunning second half display against the Bundesliga club was the catalyst for a 4-0 aggregate win and sets them up for this huge encounter with City on Tuesday. The game does not need any added significance considering it’s a meeting of two teams from the same country in what is the most important club competition in the world, but the match also represents the first European game to be played at Spurs’ new stadium, which officially opened at the end of last month. It was a winning start at their new home as Tottenham saw off Crystal Palace 2-0 but it’s been a disappointing spell for the team as a whole over the past few weeks, as that win brought an end to a six-game winless run in the league. Pochettino will be hoping the occasion and being backed by their own supporters can see them gain a positive result in the first leg.
Key-Facts – Tottenham v Manchester City
- This all Premier League quarter final means there will be at least one English representative in the last four
- City only have to look back 12 months to know they cannot afford to take Spurs lightly having been eliminated by Liverpool at the same stage when big favourites
- This will be the first European game to be played at Spurs’ new stadium
Manchester City Preview
Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City team made it through to another final at the weekend, but it was in unconvincing fashion as they narrowly seen off Brighton to make it through to the FA Cup final in the middle of next month. Whilst the performance was far from great, it prolongs their hope of an unprecedented quadruple. The one trophy that has eluded them, however, is the Champions League and there is undoubtedly a desire throughout the whole club to end their wait by going all the way this season. City topped a group containing Lyon, Hoffenheim and Shakthar Donetsk to set up a last-16 tie against Schalke. A remarkable 10-3 win on aggregate highlighted just how devastating Guardiola’s men can be and why they are fancied by so many to win the competition. It is hoped that Sergio Aguero will be fit enough to take his place in the starting eleven on Tuesday having missed the FA Cup tie against Brighton on Saturday. The club’s top scorer has been excellent this season and has notched five goals in this European campaign, including three in the previous round.
Tottenham v Manchester City Betting Advice
It’s a tie that pits third place in the Premier League against second place but there is 16 points between them, and City are big favourites to make it into the semi-final. Despite that, Guardiola will be only too well aware of being the victim of an upset and just has to look back 12 months when City were knocked out by Liverpool in very similar circumstances. That will be the encouragement that Pochettino and his players need to increase their belief that they can do the same, but they have to perform at a much higher level than they have done so in recent weeks.
City are definitely on a different level to Spurs – as you would expect considering their respective resources – but if Tottenham do have a chance in this tie they will feel the home leg is vital. The visitors have had some struggles on the road this season and both Lyon and Schalke have managed to trouble them in the Champions League on their travels. The hosts, however, are not in great form and it looks like being this is going to be a stage too far for them. City will have learned from their experience against Liverpool 12 months ago and can get a crucial lead to take back to the Etihad next week.
